Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy comes from the long-standing harmony-singing tradition of the Copper family of Rottingdean, in Sussex. Their version was published in the first issue of the Journal of the Folk Song Society, Vol.1, No.1, in 1899.
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Adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu
I'm a-going round the ocean, love, to seek for something new
Come change your ring with me, dear girl, come change your ring with me,
For it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea.
When I am far upon the sea, who knows not where I am
Kind letters I will write to you from every foreign land
The secrets of your heart, dear girl, are the best of my good will
So let my body be where it might, my heart is with you still.
There's a heavy storm arising, see how it comes around
While we poor sailors are on the sea, a-fighting for the crown
Our officer commanded us, and him we must obey
Expecting every moment all to get cast away.
There are tinkers, tailors, and shoemakers, lie snoring in their sleep
While we poor souls on the ocean wide are a-plowing through the deep
There's nothing to defend us, love, nor to keep us from the cold
On the ocean wide, where we must bide like jolly seamen bold.
But when the wars are over, there'll be peace on every shore
We will drink to our wives and our children, and the girls that we adore
We'll call for liquor merrily, and spend out money free
And when the money it is all gone, we'll boldly go to sea.
So adieu, sweet lovely Nancy, ten thousand times adieu
I'm a-going round the ocean, love, to seek for something new
Come change your ring with me, dear girl, come change your ring with me,
For it might be a token of true love while I am on the sea.
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